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Are the Bulls Title Contenders Once Again?

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A look at how the Chicago Bulls have redeveloped into title contenders in the NBA 2016/17 season

The Chicago Bulls had quite the summer makeover.

They bid adieu to their biggest star Derrick Rose, traded Justin Holiday, and freed up a lot of cap space, while mourning their missed playoff opportunity, having failed to make the postseason for the first time in 8 years. Coming the opposite way was an ample replacement in Rajon Rondo, along with one of the best in the league Dwyane Wade. Robin Lopez was also involved in the Rose deal, joining from the Knicks.

It meant a few things. Not only was Jimmy Butler the new star man, not only had they cultivated one of the strongest backcourts in the whole league, but they were a new kind of beast entirely. A reincarnated three-point game on top of that has made them big contenders in the Eastern conference.

It's often the case that with so many moving parts, clashing dynamics - especially with Rajon Rondo involved - and new additions that it takes a lot of time to get going. It appears from the early start to the season though that Chicago have gelled pretty quick, which is a warning beacon to the rest of the pack.

Image: My Palm Beach Post

Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, right from the season's tip-off, proved that they have settled into life at the Illinois club, forging a back court which had both men doing what they do best - Rondo's plethora of assists and Wade's blend of that and of coursed scoring, or as we saw especially against the Boston Celtics, his three-point range.

Image: NBA.com

And when you move further up court, you have Jimmy Butler. The new face of the Chicago Bulls franchise, the small forward is raining in the buckets and relishing the role as the star, developing into an efficient scorer who can achieve many great things on the court at the United Center. He can run through the floor and know that the guards will be looking for him.

"I just keep running the floor because I know I'm going to get the ball," he told the media after his team went to 3-0. As history has told us, even the very best players need a supporting cast. Butler has it in Rondo and Wade.

The connection between the three was no better summarised than during a rout of the Brooklyn Nets, where Rondo passed the rock to Wade who then lobbed it up to Butler for the alley-oop dunk. Chemistry doesn't come overnight, but for the Bulls it's coming fast.

In terms of the rest of the squad depth, we've barely scratched the surface for the rest. Robin Lopez was an exceptional capture in the transfer period from the Knicks, The cerebral center is also adjusting to life well, and it shows that by enhancing the backcourt the Bulls still have an elite big man dominating the paint.

Image: Chicago Bulls

Taj Gibson may still move on, but if not he's an asset which should be recognised by head coach Fred Hoiberg. More often when you observe him on the court he's playing the picks for the main three to run around and create space, but defensively he has given them a whole new layer of strength. So, in summary, the Bulls have one hell of a squad.

Last year, the Chicago Bulls aimed for a "change in approach" by hiring Fred Hoiberg as the head coach. As a new season gets into full swing, it appears they have nailed it. They are now a big shark in the Eastern conference ocean.

They'll be sharing that space at the top of the pecking order with Cleveland, and perhaps a few other teams who still may rise up, since there are 82 games. But if we can take anything forward as a lesson, it's that the Bulls can go really far. Not just a postseason cameo, but maybe even the NBA Finals. Cleveland, the reigning champions were expected not to be challenged, although as things stand they may have a mountain to climb should they meet the Bulls in the conference finals.